Boolean Query Composer Visual Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in formulating and refining Boolean queries due to their non-intuitive nature, especially when dealing with large collections of documents, as they require iterative processes and a lack of visual guidance, making it challenging for non-technical users to achieve desired search results.

Innovation Solution

A system that provides a graphical user interface with dynamically adjusted visual guides to help users iterate on Boolean queries by suggesting narrowing and broadening terms, using client-side scripts to reduce latency and offer intuitive query refinement tools, including graphical representations and user inputs for adding terms and operators, facilitating the composition and refinement of queries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If Boolean queries are used to search large document collections, then search precision and expressiveness are improved, but user operation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch precisionVSAvoiduser operation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system that translates natural language user inputs into Boolean queries. This mediator component analyzes user intent and automatically generates the appropriate Boolean logic expressions, eliminating the need for users to directly construct complex Boolean syntax while preserving search precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of manually constructing Boolean queries with an automated natural language processing system. Users simply type or speak their search intent in natural language, and the system automatically converts it into the appropriate Boolean query format, substituting the manual mechanical process with an intelligent automated system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If iterative query refinement is implemented, then search accuracy improves, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of the document collection and pre-computes relevant metadata, indexes, and relationships before user queries are submitted. This preliminary preparation enables faster query execution and refinement iterations, reducing the time penalty associated with iterative searching while maintaining high search accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements an intelligent feedback mechanism that analyzes user interaction patterns, query results, and document relevance signals to automatically suggest refinements and adjust search parameters. This feedback loop enables the system to learn from each iteration and improve search accuracy more efficiently, reducing the number of manual refinement cycles needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If visual guidance interfaces are added to help users, then ease of operation improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates simplified visual representations and copies of the underlying complex data structures and query states. Instead of exposing the full complexity of Boolean logic and document relationships, the system generates user-friendly visual interfaces that copy and represent only the essential information needed for user interaction, hiding the underlying complexity while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Speed

If client-side scripts are used for query refinement tools, then response speed improves, but processing load on user device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidprocessing load on user device

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a distributed processing architecture where critical, time-sensitive query refinement operations are executed partially on the client-side for immediate feedback, while more computationally intensive analysis is performed on the server-side. This partial client-side execution provides fast response for interactive elements without overwhelming the user device with excessive processing loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9990417B2Boolean-query composer

Publication Date: 2018.06.05 QUID LLC

AI summary

Provided is a process of refining Boolean queries, the process including: obtaining a query; searching a corpus of documents based on the query; selecting narrowing terms that pertain to respective subsets of the responsive documents; selecting broadening terms related to the query; instructing the user's computing device to present a graphical user interface comprising: graphical representations of the narrowing terms; graphical representations of the broadening terms; and one or more user inputs by which the user refines the query by adding a selected narrowing term or a selected broadening term; obtaining a user selection of a broadening term or a narrowing term; forming a refined query based on the user selection; searching at least part of the corpus based on the refined query to identify refined responsive documents; and instructing the user's computing device to present an updated graphical user interface with information about the refined responsive documents.